| Step | Derivation/Formula | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | \[a_{t} = \alpha \; r = (-0.82\,\text{rad/s}^2)(12\,\text{m}) = -9.84\,\text{m/s}^2\] | This calculates the tangential acceleration by multiplying the angular acceleration \(\alpha\) with the radius \(r\). The negative sign indicates the tangential acceleration opposes the direction of motion along the track. |
| 2 | \[a_{n} = r\omega^2 = 12\,\text{m}\,(1.8\,\text{rad/s})^2 = 12\,(3.24) = 38.88\,\text{m/s}^2\] | This computes the centripetal (normal) acceleration directed toward the center of the circle using the formula \(a_{n} = r\omega^2\). |
| 3 | \[a = \sqrt{a_t^2 + a_n^2} = \sqrt{(-9.84)^2 + (38.88)^2} = \sqrt{96.81 + 1512.83} = \sqrt{1609.64} \approx 40.12\,\text{m/s}^2\] | The total acceleration is the vector sum of the perpendicular tangential and centripetal components, found using the Pythagorean theorem. |
| 4 | \[\theta = \arctan\left(\frac{|a_t|}{a_n}\right) = \arctan\left(\frac{9.84}{38.88}\right) \approx \arctan(0.253) \approx 14.2^\circ\] | This angle is measured relative to the horizontal inward (centripetal) direction. Since the tangential acceleration is negative (acting downward while the car moves upward), the net acceleration is directed \(14.2^\circ\) below the horizontal inward direction. |
| 5 | \[\boxed{a \approx 40.1\,\text{m/s}^2 \quad \text{at } 14.2^\circ \text{ below the horizontal (inward)}}\] | This is the final answer for the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of the car on the loop. |
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Flywheels (rapidly rotating disks) are widely used in industry for storing energy. They are spun up slowly when extra energy is available, then decelerate quickly when needed to supply a boost of energy. A flywheel, \( 20 \text{ cm} \) in diameter, can spin at \( 20{,}000 \text{ rpm} \).

A point on the edge of a disk rotates around the center of the disk with an initial angular velocity of 3 rad/s clockwise. The graph shows the point’s angular acceleration as a function of time. The positive direction is considered to be counterclockwise. All frictional forces are considered to be negligible.
The maximum acceleration a pilot can withstand without blacking out is about \( 7.0 \) \( g \). In an endurance test for a jet plane’s pilot, what is the maximum speed he can tolerate if he is spun in a horizontal circle of diameter \( 85 \) \( \text{m} \)?
A turntable rotates through \( 6 \) \( \text{rad} \) in \( 3 \) \( \text{s} \) as it accelerates uniformly from rest. What is its angular acceleration in \( \text{rad/s}^2 \)?
A race car traveling at a constant speed of \( 50 \) \( \text{m/s} \) drives around a circular track that is \( 500 \) \( \text{m} \) in diameter. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the car?
A string is wound tightly around a fixed pulley having a radius of 5.0 cm. As the string is pulled, the pulley rotates without any slipping of the string. What is the angular speed of the pulley when the string is moving at 5.0 m/s?
A solid sphere, solid cylinder, and a hollow pipe all have equal masses and radii. If the three of them are released simultaneously at the top of an inclined plane and do not slip, which one will reach the bottom first? \( I_{sphere} = \frac{2}{5}MR^2\), \( I_{cylinder} = \frac{1}{2}MR^2\), \( I_{pipe} = MR^2\)
The tub of a washer goes into its spin-dry cycle, starting from rest and reaching an angular speed of \( 5.0 \) \( \text{rev/s} \) in \( 8.0 \) \( \text{s} \). At this point, the person doing the laundry opens the lid, and a safety switch turns off the washer. The tub slows to rest in \( 12.0 \) \( \text{s} \). Through how many revolutions does the tub turn during the entire \( 20 \)-s interval? Assume constant angular acceleration while it is starting and stopping.
A car rounds a curve at a steady \( 50 \) \( \text{km/h} \). If it rounds the same curve at a steady \( 70 \) \( \text{km/h} \), will its acceleration be any different?
A motorcycle has tires with a diameter of \( 44.0 \) \( \text{cm} \). Cruising down the highway, they are rotating at \( 1150 \) \( \text{rpm} \) (revolutions per minute).
\(40.1\,\text{m/s}^2 \quad 14.2^\circ\text{ below the horizontal (inward)}\)
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| Kinematics | Forces |
|---|---|
| \(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\) | \(F = ma\) |
| \(v = v_i + at\) | \(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\) |
| \(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\) | \(f = \mu N\) |
| \(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\) | \(F_s =-kx\) |
| \(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) |
| Circular Motion | Energy |
|---|---|
| \(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\) | \(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\) |
| \(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\) | \(PE = mgh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\) | \(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\) |
| \(W = Fd \cos\theta\) |
| Momentum | Torque and Rotations |
|---|---|
| \(p = mv\) | \(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\) |
| \(J = \Delta p\) | \(I = \sum mr^2\) |
| \(p_i = p_f\) | \(L = I \cdot \omega\) |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | Fluids |
|---|---|
| \(F = -kx\) | \(P = \frac{F}{A}\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\) | \(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\) |
| \(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\) | \(Q = Av\) |
| \(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\) | \(F_b = \rho V g\) |
| \(a = -\omega^2 x\) | \(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\) |
| Constant | Description |
|---|---|
| [katex]g[/katex] | Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface |
| [katex]G[/katex] | Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex] |
| [katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex] | Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion. |
| [katex]k[/katex] | Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex] |
| [katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Earth |
| [katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Moon |
| [katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex] | Mass of the Sun |
| Variable | SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]s[/katex] (Displacement) | [katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex] |
| [katex]v[/katex] (Velocity) | [katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration) | [katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]t[/katex] (Time) | [katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]m[/katex] (Mass) | [katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex] |
| Variable | Derived SI Unit |
|---|---|
| [katex]F[/katex] (Force) | [katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex] |
| [katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy) | [katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex] |
| [katex]P[/katex] (Power) | [katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex] |
| [katex]p[/katex] (Momentum) | [katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity) | [katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex] |
| [katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque) | [katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex] |
| [katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia) | [katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex] |
| [katex]f[/katex] (Frequency) | [katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex] |
Metric Prefixes
Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters.
Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]
Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]
Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]
Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]
Prefix | Symbol | Power of Ten | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
Pico- | p | [katex]10^{-12}[/katex] | 0.000000000001 |
Nano- | n | [katex]10^{-9}[/katex] | 0.000000001 |
Micro- | µ | [katex]10^{-6}[/katex] | 0.000001 |
Milli- | m | [katex]10^{-3}[/katex] | 0.001 |
Centi- | c | [katex]10^{-2}[/katex] | 0.01 |
Deci- | d | [katex]10^{-1}[/katex] | 0.1 |
(Base unit) | – | [katex]10^{0}[/katex] | 1 |
Deca- or Deka- | da | [katex]10^{1}[/katex] | 10 |
Hecto- | h | [katex]10^{2}[/katex] | 100 |
Kilo- | k | [katex]10^{3}[/katex] | 1,000 |
Mega- | M | [katex]10^{6}[/katex] | 1,000,000 |
Giga- | G | [katex]10^{9}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000 |
Tera- | T | [katex]10^{12}[/katex] | 1,000,000,000,000 |
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